2006 Pritzker donation to Blagojevich raises questions

CHICAGO – A 2006 donation from Illinois gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker to ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s re-election is raising questions.

The Chicago Tribune reports Pritzker and his wife contributed $100,000 to the now-imprisoned Blagojevich’s campaign, which came days before Blagojevich announced a $1 million state grant for the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center’s construction.

Pritzker, a billionaire businessman, was chief museum fundraiser.

The Democrat’s spokeswoman Galia Slayen says there was no connection between the donation and grant and the Pritzkers gave over $12 million to the museum and spearheaded fundraising tens of millions more.

The Tribune has previously reported secret FBI wiretap recordings from a 2008 Blagojevich probe capturing Pritzker and Blagojevich discussing an appointment. Pritzker’s campaign has said there was “nothing untoward” about the conversation.

Blagojevich is serving a prison sentence on corruption convictions.

___

Information from: Chicago Tribune, http://www.chicagotribune.com

News from © iNFOnews.ca, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?